Safety system for cockpit

ABSTRACT

A passenger aircraft cockpit safety system, consisting of a strong, bullet resistant door and wall, both equipped with a peephole and a shielded window opening. The cockpit wall and the closed door allow for a free air exchange between passenger cabin and the cockpit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] “Not Applicable”

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] “Not Applicable”

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] “Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates to a wall and a door arrangement betweenpassenger cabin and pilot compartment in a passenger aircraft, and itparticularly relates to safety elements in this area.

[0005] In the past air travel was quite safe and an open door to a pilotcockpit was customary. Recent terrorist attacks against pilots andhijacking of airplanes alarmed general public and created a greatconcern for pilots, who are now working in a dangerous environment.Existing cockpit doors can not be strengthened and locked, because theyhave to open automatically to balance air pressure between passengercabin and a pilot cockpit in certain situations.

[0006] This invention provides a strong cockpit door with an insidelocking system, and it also allows for a free air flow between passengerand pilot compartments. Also a cockpit wall has the same air flowarrangement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of this invention is to provide a safe environment forpilots in the cockpit, thus letting them to concentrate on their maintask, piloting the airplane.

[0008] This is achieved by equipping the plane with a strong, bulletresistant cockpit door, locked by pilots from inside, and also byproviding the door with plurality of special strips, allowing for freeair flow between passenger and pilots compartments, but blocking anoutside view and eventual bullets. Also a peephole and a shielded windowopening are provided for observation, and the window could be used for acrew contact, for food and beverage supply and for use of weapon inemergency.

[0009] This free air flow is very important when airplane is suddenlychanging altitude.

[0010] The door should be built of strong materials, like: steel, othermetals or plastics.

[0011] In order to isolate pilots from passengers, a cockpit door couldbe completely removed and another outside door could be built forpilots. In a such case the wall between pilots and passengers shouldhave plurality of special strips for allowing a free air flow.

[0012] This invention is providing such a safety door and a safety wallfor an airplane cockpit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0013]FIG. 1 is a front view of a cockpit door from the cockpit side.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a side view of the cockpit door from the right side.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged cross section view of the door fromFIG. 1, taken along line 1-1.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of part of the door from FIG. 1,taken along line 2-2.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of a part of the door from FIG.2, taken from direction A.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.1, taken along line 3-3.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.1, taken along line 4-4.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.1, taken along line 5-5.

[0021]FIG. 9 is a front view of a cockpit door with plates from cockpitside.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.9, taken along line 6-6.

[0023]FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.9, taken along line 7-7.

[0024]FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.9, taken along line 8-8.

[0025]FIG. 13 is a partial enlarged cross section of the door from FIG.1, taken along line 5-5.

[0026]FIG. 14 is a front view of a cockpit wall from the cockpit side.

[0027]FIG. 15 is a front view of a cockpit wall with plates from thecockpit side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] This invention is an improvement to safety arrangement of anairplane front area, between a passenger cabin and a pilot cockpit. Thepresent invention will now be described in details with reference toaccompanying drawings:

[0029]FIG. 1 is showing a front view of a cockpit door, having twowings, a right 1 and a left 2. There is also shown a peephole 3, awindow opening 4, a window shield 5, a window base 18, an upper lock 14with its guide 16 and with a locking bar 17, a strip “U” 12, a strip “Z”13, a strip “S” 23, a strip “V” 24, a medium lock 8 with its guides 9and locking bar 10, a frame bar 11, a frame 7, door hinges 6, a lowerlock 15 with its guide 16 and a locking bar 17. The window shield 5 isshown in a closed and locked position. Locking the door is achieved bysliding bar 10 to the left, moving up the upper bar 17, and by slidingdown the lower bar 17. In order to open the door, the locking bars haveto be moved in the opposite directions, and the door wings 1 and 2should be turned 90 degree to inside of the cockpit on their hinges 6.The peephole 3 allows to see activity in the passenger cabin withoutopening the window shield 5. The strips could be positioned on thecockpit door in a vertical, horizontal, slant or in any other position.

[0030]FIG. 2 is showing the same parts as FIG. 1, but the window shield5 is shown in an open position. The window opening 4 allows for a crewcommunication, for supply of food and beverages, and also for usingweapon by pilots in an emergency situation. Portion of the upper hinges6 are cut off in order to show the window shield 5.

[0031]FIG. 3 is showing a partial enlarged cross section of the leftwing 2 and also a cross section of a cockpit wall 35, a frame 7, anumber of strips “Z” 13.

[0032] The both sides of the each strip are overlapping the other sidesof next adjacent strips. Shape of the strips 13 and their arrangementallows for a constant free air flow between both sides of the door andin both directions.

[0033]FIG. 4 is showing a partial cross section of the right door wing 1and also a cross section of cockpit wall 35, a frame 7, a number ofstrips “U” 12.

[0034] The both sides of the each strip are overlapping the other sidesof next adjacent strips. There could be many different shapes of strips,with different cross sections, but they can not be flat, they have to becurvilinear in cross section.

[0035]FIG. 5 is showing a window opening 4, a window shield 5, a shieldlock 19, with shield lock guides 21 and with a locking bar 22. Also awindow base 18 is shown with its locking bar guide 20. Locking andunlocking of the window shield 5 is possible by moving the locking bar22 to left or right. The window shield 5 opens by rotating to thecockpit side, as shown on FIG. 2.

[0036]FIG. 6 is showing a partial cross section of the door wings 1 and2, a low lock guide 16 and a locking bar 17. Edge of the door wing 1 isblocking movement of the door wing 2 to the cockpit direction.

[0037]FIG. 7 is showing a partial enlarged cross sections of the doorwing 2, the cockpit wall 35, a frame 7 and a number of strips “S” 23.The both sides of the each strip are overlapping the other sides of nextadjacent strips.

[0038]FIG. 8 is showing a partial enlarged cross sections of the doorwing 1, the cockpit wall 35, a frame 7 and a number of strips “V” 24.The both sides of the each strip are overlapping the other sides of nextadjacent strips.

[0039]FIG. 9 is showing a front view of a cockpit door with plates,having two wings, a right 25 and a left 26. There is also shown apeephole 3, a window opening 4, a window shield 5, an upper lock 14, amedium lock 8, a lower lock 15, a frame 7, hinges 6, plates 27, 28, 29and 30, openings 32, strips 31, 33, 34 and 38. The strips could bepositioned in a vertical, slant, horizontal, or in any other position.

[0040] A side view of the door is very similar to the door from FIG. 2,except for strips and openings, which are shown on cross sections FIG.10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.

[0041]FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged cross sections of the door from FIG.9 and also of the wall from FIG. 15. On this FIG. 10 is shown a doorwing 2, a wall 36, a frame 7, plates 27 and 28, opening 32, and strips31 and 32. The strips of the plate 27 are blocking perpendicular viewfrom openings of the plate 28, and the strips of the plate 28 areblocking perpendicular view from openings from the plate 27. Thisarrangement assures no outside visibility to the cockpit and it alsomakes these door and wall a bullet proof.

[0042]FIG. 11 is showing the door wing 26, a wall 36, a frame 7, plates27 and 29, opening 32 and strips 31 and 34. Otherwise this arrangementis similar to the one shown on FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is showing the door wing25, the wall 36, the frame 7, plates 28 and 30, opening 32 and strips 33and 38. Otherwise this arrangement is similar to the one shown on FIG.10.

[0043]FIG. 13 is showing the door wing 1, the wall 35, the frame 7, andtwo rows of strips 37. The strips of a first row are blockingperpendicular view through openings of a second row, and the strips ofthe second row are blocking perpendicular view through openings of thefirst row.

[0044]FIG. 14 is showing a cockpit wall 35, a peephole 3, a windowopening 4, a window shield 5, a frame 7, an opening 32 and strips 12,13, 24 and 37. The strips can be arranged on a wall in a vertical,horizontal, slant or in any other position. For cross sections of thecockpit wall see FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 13.FIG. 15 is showing a cockpit wall 36, a peephole 3, a window opening 4,a window shield 5, a frame 7, an opening 32 and strips 31, 33, and 34.The strips can be arranged on a wall in a vertical, horizontal, slant orin any other position.

[0045] For cross sections of the cockpit wall 36 see FIG. 10, FIG. 11and FIG. 12.

I claim:
 1. A door for protecting an airplane cockpit, comprising aplurality of strips, said strips being parallel and being spaced apartfrom each other, each having a curvilinear cross section and having afirst side and second side opposing said first side, a first side ofeach strip overlapping a second side of a next adjacent strip, and asecond side of each strip overlapping a first side of a next adjacentstrip.
 2. The door according to claim 1, wherein said strips have aC-shaped cross section.
 3. The door according to claim 1, wherein saidstrips have a Z-shaped cross section.
 4. The door according to claim 1,wherein said strips have a S-shaped cross section.
 5. The door accordingto claim 1, wherein said strips have a V-shaped cross section.
 6. A doorfor protecting an airplane cockpit, comprising a plurality of stripsbeing flat in cross section and being assemble in two rows, side byside, having a first row and a second row, each of said rows having anumber of parallel and angularly positioned strips, each row comprisingstrips positioned under different angle than said other row, and beingassemble on said door in a such way, that strips of said first row areblocking perpendicular view through openings of said second row, andstrips of said second row are blocking perpendicular view throughopenings of said first row.
 7. A door for protecting an airplanecockpit, comprising two plates on each opposing side of said door, eachof said plates having a plurality of outwardly angled parallel strips,each strip having a corresponding opening, and each of said plates areassemble on said door in a such relation to each other, that strips of afirst plate are blocking perpendicular view through openings of a secondplate, and strips of said second plate are blocking perpendicular viewthrough openings of said first plate.
 8. The door according to claim 7,wherein said plates comprise strips outwardly angled on both sides ofsaid door.
 9. The door according to claim 7, wherein said platescomprise strips inwardly angled on both sides of said door.
 10. The dooraccording to claim 7, wherein said one plate comprises strips inwardlyangled to said door, and said other plate comprises strips outwardlyangled to said door.
 11. A door for protecting an airplane cockpit,comprising a window shield covering a window opening.
 12. A wall forprotecting an airplane cockpit, comprising a plurality of strips, beingparallel and being spaced apart from each other, each having acurvilinear cross section and having a first side and second sideopposing said first side, a first side of each strip overlapping asecond side of a next adjacent strip, and a second side of each stripoverlapping a first side of a next adjacent strip.
 13. The wallaccording to claim 12, wherein said strips have a C-shaped crosssection.
 14. The wall according to claim 12, wherein said strips have aZ-shaped cross section.
 15. The wall according to claim 12, wherein saidstrips have a S-shaped cross section.
 16. The wall according to claim12, wherein said strips have a V-shaped cross section.
 17. A wall forprotecting an airplane cockpit, comprising a plurality of strips beingflat in cross section and being assemble in two rows, side by side,having a first row and a second row, each of said rows having a numberof parallel and angularly positioned strips, each row comprising stripspositioned under different angle than said other row, and being assembleon said wall in a such arrangement, that strips of said first row areblocking perpendicular view through openings of said second row, andstrips of said second row are blocking perpendicular view throughopenings of said first row.
 18. A wall for protecting an airplanecockpit, comprising two plates, one on each opposing side of said wall,a first plate and a second plate, each of said plates having pluralityof outwardly angled parallel strips, each strip having a correspondingopening, and each of said plates is assembled on said wall in a suchrelation to each other, that strips of said first plate are blockingperpendicular view through openings of the second plate, and strips ofsaid second plate are blocking perpendicular view through openings ofsaid first plate.
 19. The wall according to claim 18, wherein said twoplates comprise strips outwardly angled on both sides of said wall. 20.The wall according to claim 18, wherein said two plates comprise stripsinwardly angled on both sides of said wall.
 21. The wall according toclaim 18, wherein said first plate comprises strips inwardly angled tosaid wall, and said second plate comprises strips outwardly angled tosaid wall.
 22. A wall for protecting an airplane cockpit, comprising awindow shield covering a window opening.